Feminist activists interrupt Franco memorial event in Madrid

Fascists and extreme far right wing supporters rise their right arm saluting the fascist anthem as they remember former Spanish Dictator Francisco Franco on the 43th anniversary of his death, in Madrid,Spain, Sunday, Nov. 18, 2018. Hundreds of people nostalgic for Spain's fascist past held a rally on Sunday to mark the 43th anniversary of dictator Francisco Franco's death. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez) (Source: Manu Fernandez)

November 18, 2018 at 10:38 AM EST - Updated November 18 at 11:08 AM

MADRID (AP) — Spanish police intervened Sunday to keep trouble from erupting at a rally in Madrid marking the anniversary of military dictator Francisco Franco's death after feminist protesters interrupted the event.

Officers on horseback and on foot quickly moved to keep an angry crowd of about 200 away from the three members of the Feminist group Femen who ran into the gathering. The women were topless and had the words "Legal fascism, national shame" painted on their torsos.

The rally is held annually on the Sunday falling closest to Nov. 20, the date Franco died in 1975. The general ruled Spain for 36 years after leading a military uprising that started the Spanish Civil War.

Spain's Socialist-led government plans to exhume Franco's remains from the Valley of the Fallen, a mausoleum northwest of Madrid he ordered built as a memorial to the 1936-39 war. Some 34,000 people from both sides of the fighting are buried at the site, most of them never identified.

Supporters rise their right arm to salute the fascist anthem to remember former Spanish dictator Francisco Franco on the 43rd anniversary of his death, in Madrid, Spain, Sunday, Nov. 18, 2018. Hundreds of people nostalgic for Spain's fascist past held a rally on Sunday to mark the anniversary. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez) (Source: Manu Fernandez)

Applauded by Spaniards on the left, the decision has infuriated others nostalgic for the dictatorship and drawn criticism from Spain's center-right political parties, who consider it unnecessary.

Supporters rise their right arm to salute the fascist anthem to remember former Spanish dictator Francisco Franco on the 43rd anniversary of his death, in Madrid, Spain, Sunday, Nov. 18, 2018. Hundreds of people nostalgic for Spain's fascist past held a rally on Sunday to mark the anniversary. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez) (Source: Manu Fernandez)

Elsewhere on Sunday, supporters of the government's plan to move Franco's remains gathered at the Valley of the Fallen.

A member of feminist movement Femen is detained by Spanish police after a protest against a far-right rally in Madrid, Spain, Sunday, Nov. 18, 2018. Hundreds of people nostalgic for Spain's fascist past held a peaceful rally on Sunday to mark the 43rd anniversary of dictator Francisco Franco's death. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez) (Source: Manu Fernandez)

The anti-Franco protesters held a banner reading "Truth, justice and compensation for the victims of Franco" and chanted "We won't forgive, we won't forget!"

A man is detained after he protested against a far-right rally in Madrid, Spain, Sunday, Nov. 18, 2018. Hundreds of people nostalgic for Spain's fascist past held a rally on Sunday to mark the 43rd anniversary of dictator Francisco Franco's death. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez) (Source: Manu Fernandez)

Fascists and extreme far right wing supporters rise their right arm saluting the fascist anthem with Spanish pre-constitutional flags as they remember former Spanish Dictator Francisco Franco on the 43th anniversary of his death, in Madrid,Spain, Sunday, Nov. 18, 2018. Hundreds of people nostalgic for Spain's fascist past held a rally on Sunday to mark the 43th anniversary of dictator Francisco Franco's death. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez) (Source: Manu Fernandez)

Supporters rise their right arm to salute the fascist anthem to remember former Spanish dictator Francisco Franco on the 43rd anniversary of his death, in Madrid, Spain, Sunday, Nov. 18, 2018. Hundreds of people nostalgic for Spain's fascist past held a rally on Sunday to mark the anniversary. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez) (Source: Manu Fernandez)

A man is detained after protesting against a far-right rally in Madrid, Spain, Sunday, Nov. 18, 2018. Hundreds of people nostalgic for Spain's fascist past held a rally on Sunday to mark the 43rd anniversary of dictator Francisco Franco's death. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez) (Source: Manu Fernandez)